Julia Roberts’ older brother, Eric Roberts, who is also the father of actress Emma Roberts, has publicly apologized to his sister for previously claiming credit for her successful, award-winning career. Emma Roberts is Julia’s niece, not her younger sister.
Eric, now 68, reflects on the ups and downs of his career and personal life in his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, particularly how these struggles impacted his relationships with his famous sister Julia and his daughter Emma.
Back in 2018, Eric made headlines when he admitted to being estranged from Julia during a period when he was battling substance abuse and alcohol addiction. In an interview with Vanity Fair, he had controversially claimed, “If it weren’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that.”
While he mentioned in that same interview that the siblings had reconciled around the time of Julia’s twins’ birth in 2004, family tensions still lingered. Now, with the release of his memoir, Eric is walking back those earlier remarks and asking for forgiveness.
In an excerpt from his book shared by People, Eric writes, “I hope Julia will accept this public apology.” He admits, “It was a ridiculous thing to say in the first place.”
Eric also opens up about how his substance abuse issues negatively impacted his relationships with his entire family, including their other sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan. He reflects on how his behavior may have caused lasting trauma, saying, “I wouldn’t be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from when it was dangerous to be around me. Lisa and Julia needed love and protection — instead, they got fear and uncertainty.”
One of the most painful consequences of his addiction, according to Eric, was “losing Emma.” His relationship with his daughter became strained, and during a custody battle between Eric and his ex-girlfriend Kelly Cunningham, Julia took Kelly’s side. Although Eric doesn’t go into detail about the incident in his memoir, he acknowledges that Julia made the right decision at that time.
Now participating in Dancing With the Stars, Eric reflects on his role in the Roberts family dynamic: “I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad for the rest of my life,” he writes, expressing his desire to repair these relationships. “I want to make good on it, to respectfully and gracefully step down from this position. It is for this reason that the book was written in the first place.”
Though neither Julia nor Emma has publicly addressed their relationship with Eric, the actor is immensely proud of his daughter’s accomplishments. During an appearance on Still Here Hollywood in July 2024, Eric gushed, “I’m in love with my daughter’s work these days. I am unable to comprehend how wonderful she has become. I am so ecstatic about her that I can’t even see straight.”